Best Opening Lines (Literature)

[IAmNietzche]

What is the best opening line you've ever read. Mine is from William Gibson's Neuromancer.

"The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead station."

[wrppdarndyrfngr]

It was the best of times. it was the worst of times.

[pshh]

cat's cradle

[Skadrist]

En un lugar de La Mancha de Cuyo nombre no quiero acordarme, no ha mucho tiempo que vivia un hidalgo de los de lanza en astillero, adarga antigua, rocin flaco y galgo corredor.

[Blakebear]

I really do like Rorschach's opening monologue.

[pilot_light_out]

Dear Friend,

I am writing you because she said you listen and understand and didn't try to sleep with that person at that party even though you could have.

[Fluke13]

What is the best opening line you've ever read. Mine is from William Gibson's Neuromancer.

"The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead station."


dude, I actually opened this thread to post that. what a great book.

actually I think the last line is perfect as well

"He never saw Molly again."

short, simple and a perfect ending. Gibson could have easily written a happily ever after type of ending, but I'm so happy he refrained.

[Fluke13]

People are afraid to merge on freeways in Los Angeles.


another great one.

anyone know where that's from?

[Ailite]

"through the small, tall, bathroom window...."

[anamericangod]

It began as a mistake.

[stayillogical]

All this happened, more or less.

[StreetSpirit76]

People are afraid to merge on freeways in Los Angeles.


another great one.

anyone know where that's from?

Less Than Zero.

""All this happened, more or less. "

"The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed."

Two off the top of my head.

[StreetSpirit76]

All this happened, more or less.

Shit.

[GiggsOho]

Same old bullshit.

[stayillogical]

hahaha sorry

[Rawrr]

It was the best of times. it was the worst of times.
Worst book.

[King of Town]

"It was the best of times...IT WAS THE BLURST OF TIMES?!?!?"

[stayillogical]

Worst book.

Can't be worse than Great Expectations.

[Rawrr]

Can't be worse than Great Expectations.
True. I had to read that Summer 2007, and A Tale of Two Cities this last summer. What a waste.

[PDon11]

"And so this is my confession."

[itsmesean0630]

"If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably wanna know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like it going into it, if you want to know the truth."

[Robototron]

"Once a bitch always a bitch, what I say."

Not the opening to the book, but an excellent opening to that chapter.

[pjc1190]

Dear Friend,

I am writing you because she said you listen and understand and didn't try to sleep with that person at that party even though you could have.

god i love that book.

one of my favorites has always been:
"and it's a story that might bore you but you don't have to listen, she told me, because she always knew it was going to be like that.."

[StreetSpirit76]

" I am no fan of books. And chances are, if you're reading this, you and I share a healthy skepticism about the printed word. Well, I want you to know that this is the first book I've ever written , and I hope it's the first book you've ever read. Don't make a habit of it. "

[Stephen Chamberlain]

"riverrun, past Eve and Adam’s, from swerve of shore to bend of bay, brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation back to Howth Castle and Environs."

-Finnegans Wake

[Robototron]

" I am no fan of books. And chances are, if you're reading this, you and I share a healthy skepticism about the printed word. Well, I want you to know that this is the first book I've ever written , and I hope it's the first book you've ever read. Don't make a habit of it. "

Good old Colbert.

[E-Skeezy]

It began as a mistake is an awesome choice, not to mention one of the funniest books.

But, nothing beats

As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect.

So perfect.

[StreetSpirit76]

Good old Colbert.

Haha yep. Glad you caught it.

[CstSnow]

True. I had to read that Summer 2007, and A Tale of Two Cities this last summer. What a waste.

You're 15, try them again in 5 years and I guarantee you will have a different outlook, you still may not like them, but you would definitely appreciate them.

[Rawrr]

You're 15, try them again in 5 years and I guarantee you will have a different outlook, you still may not like them, but you would definitely appreciate them.
I can have an appreciation for good literature, I honestly can. I just don't see myself enjoying these even at age 20, but I will try to re-read them later on if it would make my enjoy them more.

[itsmesean0630]

You're 15, try them again in 5 years and I guarantee you will have a different outlook, you still may not like them, but you would definitely appreciate them.

I can have an appreciation for good literature, I honestly can. I just don't see myself enjoying these even at age 20, but I will try to re-read them later on if it would make my enjoy them more.

I can agree with this. I love Catcher in the Rye. I loved it alot more when I was 15-17, but I re-read at 20 and the character of Holden Caulfield pisses me off at times.

But I still love the book.

[polock]

call me ishmael

[CstSnow]

The correct answer is Cannery Row

"Cannery Row in Monterey in California is a poem, a stink, a grating noise, a quality of light, a tone, a habit, a nostalgia, a dream."

[IAPAI]

"If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably wanna know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like it going into it, if you want to know the truth."

That was a question on Jeopardy tonight.

[depardu42]

Maybe not the best, but definitely a favorite of mine:

My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973.

-The Lovely Bones